Method to verify or track a physical address while providing a service

ABSTRACT

Buildings such as residences and commercial locations are provided with an address marker including a barcode and/or RF tag. This allows immediate verification of the physical address of the location and/or the name of the owner, business(es), residents, and/or employees at that location. A service provider utilizes the address information during the provision of services. For example, when a package is to be delivered the address is scanned/interrogated for verification and then the item is delivered. This speeds up the tracking and delivery of goods and services. It also reduces or eliminates human error during this process as every residence and business has an address.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application60/633,781 filed 7 Dec. 2004.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a method to verify a location. More,specifically it relates to using a bar code and/or RFID tag to verifythe physical address of a location.

2. Description of Related Art

Currently, people rely on street numbers to verify an address. If thereare no street numbers at the house, building or location they arelooking for, the street number is obtained by extrapolating from theknown address of cross streets or nearby buildings.

An emergency call may be triangulated based on a cell phone or be tracedback to a specific location based on the telephone number. However, theemergency vehicle that responds must rely on the driver's knowledge ofthe roads, crossroads, and posted street numbers if the address is notreadily visible.

Computer programs, GPS and tracking devices exist that can identifywhere a car, emergency vehicle or user is located. However, these maynot be accurate or there may be more than one house or building in closeproximity of the desired location. A person is required to rely on thehouse numbers or extrapolate if numbers are missing to identify thecorrect location

There is a need to quickly and accurately verify the address of alocation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Residences, public spaces, lots, government buildings, and commerciallocations are provided with an address marker including a barcode and/orRFID tag. This allows immediate verification of the physical address ofthe location. In addition, the data marker may contain additionalinformation such as the name of the owner, residents or business at thatlocation. Alternatively, a location may have multiple data markers.

A service provider utilizes the address information during the provisionof services, for example, UPS delivery. When a package is to bedelivered the address is scanned/interrogated for verification. If theaddress is verified the item is delivered.

This invention speeds up the tracking and delivery of goods andservices. It also reduces or eliminates human error during this processas every residence and business has an address.

BRIEF DESCRITPION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the process.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an alternative process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention uses barcode and/or RFID tags for verification of thephysical address of a residence or business or location. Each home,business, building or location is supplied with one or more datamarker(s) that includes a bar code and/or RFID tag. The data markercontains address data. The data marker or another data marker maycontain additional information such as owner data, business name data,resident data, employee data, equipment data, utility data, floor planor layout data, medical data and/or other information.

The data marker could be placed on or in a building or be remote fromthe building. The data marker may be on the exterior of a building, in alobby, at each department or unit. If a data marker is remote from alocation, it is preferably that the data marker be in relatively closeproximity to the building or location so that the service provider caneasily identify the location. The data marker could be on a curb, on themailbox, on a post, on a gate or other accessible position. In a gatedcommunity or large facility with several buildings, there may be a firstdata marker outside the complex and then additional data markers foreach building or location within. It is preferable that data markers beplaced in easily accessible and readily visible positions so that theservice person does not need to look for it.

Data marker may store more information than just the physical address.For example, it may store company or family name. If the building is amultifamily building or office building with more than on tenant, thedata marker may include information about the tenants, departments andtheir locations, suite or apartment numbers. There may be further datamarkers outside each office, or department office.

The data marker may be used to store information about the individualsin a home, for example if there are children, whether anyone has ahandicap or any special medical needs. Upon arriving at the scene thefire department, EMTs or other emergency personnel would scan the datamarker and have access to important information.

The technology could be used to access the locked fireboxes securebuildings that emergency personal currently access with a key. The datamarker could be electronically connected to a lockbox or door andautomatically unlock the lockbox or door upon interrogation by theappropriate signal.

Data marker could indicate the number of employees at a facility. If thedata marker is a read/writable RFID, employee information or utilityinformation could be automatically updated. For example, data markercould be updated daily to indicate the employees and guest in thefacility on a particular day and/or the status of various systems suchas the sprinkler system. For example, the system could be automaticallyconnected to the employees' electronic access cards and could updatebased on who leaves or enters the facility. Data marker could be updatedmore or less frequently than daily.

The location or building may have more than one data marker. Forexample, there may be on marker that can be read by delivery persons,another that can be read by service providers and another that can beread by emergency personnel.

A person providing the service would use the data marker to verify theservice/delivery address and other pertinent information. The datamarker could be used by delivery persons, repairpersons, utilitypersons, fire, police, and other emergency personnel.

If a company C1 orders a piece of equipment, the equipment is to bedelivered to an address A1. The driver scans/interrogates the address onthe equipment packaging or invoice (using the barcode and/or RF tag) toconfirm the name of the company C1 and address A1 where the delivery isto be made. This information is entered into or stored in a handhelddevice. The driver scans/interrogates the data marker at the deliverylocation to verify the address and company name match. If there is amatch the equipment is delivered. The data marker may provide alternatedelivery instructions. The alternate instruction could instruct the itemto be delivered to an alternate address, left in a delivery location orleft with an alternate person. If alternate delivery instructions arereceived, the driver can scan or interrogate the data marker at thealternate location to verify that the alternate location is the correctdelivery location. The delivery could be confirmed and a report can besent immediately to the equipment manufacturer.

Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, grocery delivery, florist, food-delivery,catalog orders and other deliveries could verify the address of thedelivery by scanning the data marker prior to making the delivery.Information could be stored in data marker authorizing the US PostOffice, United Parcel Service, Federal Express, or another deliveryservice to leave packages with designated people or in a designatedlocation.

This will help in billing. It will be useful in tracking goods, damagedgoods and/or claimed non-receipt of goods. Reports can be generatedquickly, such as with wireless communication, if the delivery person hasthe capability

If an equipment owner or lessee makes a service call, the repairpersoncould scan/interrogate the data marker to confirm the he or she is atthe address where the repair is needed. The data marker may containinformation about the layout of the facility and/or the location ofvarious large pieces of equipment. For example, in a residentialbuilding sometimes each individual unit has its own equipment and othertimes there is common equipment and sometimes it is a combination ofequipment in an individual apartment and equipment in a common location.Thus, it would be useful for the cable repairperson to know that thecable junction boxes are located in storage closets on floors 2 and 5. Ameter reader could scan the home ID and the meter settings to determineusage. This could be uploaded to the gas or electric company. It couldalso be downloaded for immediate billing. Other service providers suchas home-health, meals-on-wheels, carpet cleaners, and cleaning servicescould scan the data marker to ensure they are at the correct home. Thescanned information can be used for billing purposes to ensure that thebill goes to the correct address rather than a wrong address due tohuman error in keying in the address. Accurate records could be kept ofthe time on the job by having a service provider scan the data marker asthey enter and leave the property. For home-health, the data marker mayindicate insurance, recent treatments or other health information. If aread/write RFID tag is used, the data can be automatically updated asthe health-care provider leaves with the most recent treatmentinformation. This will assist the health-care worker next coming tovisit a patient. A report could be generated and sent to the patient'streatment providers and doctors.

When an emergency call is received, the address can be automaticallygenerated such as by the 911 call be tracked to or coordinated with aspecific location or by the caller identifying the location. A code forthe service required, for example, a paramedic call is generated andsent to the appropriate service provider. The ambulance, fire truck,police or other service provider travels to the location. The datamarker is scanned/interrogated and the address verified. Additional datamay be stored on the data marker and retrieved by the emergencypersonal, such as for example, if any of the resident's has any specialmedical needs or allergies. If the service provider was an ambulance,the patient would be attended to and transported to a hospital. Becauseinformation about the residents and any important health informationcould be stored as part of the marker, the hospital could immediatelyhave patient data. When the paramedics return to the fire station, areport could be automatically generated. Data could be transferred usingRF, IR or, linked technology or any other upload or download method.

If for example, the emergency call were for a fire, the data about thenumber of residents, whether there are any children, and the location ofbedrooms would be useful to the emergency personnel to quicklyevacuating the building. In responding to a fire, the firefighters wouldbe able to scan a data marker and learn information to assist them insaving lives.

In responding to an emergency, the emergency service provider would beable to scan the address, assess the number of potential victims, sendinformation to a database, determine the closest hospital or the closesthospital with patient capability, evaluate the severity of the wounds,transport victims to prevent overload of hospital resources. Forexample, the specific injuries may be best treated at a specificlocation. This information could be used to transport the victims.

The identifying RFID tag could be included in identification such as apassport, driver's license, military identification tag, or otheridentification. It could be interrogated such as a batch interrogationof all passengers getting off an airplane and it could be quicklydetermined if a more detailed screening was needed. RFID tags could beused to track patients, crime scenes or bio-terror scenes, the locationof an event, transport victims and best distribute emergency services.

Merchants can use RFID tags. RFID tag can be attached to or embedded inmerchandise or merchandise packaging. When a consumer selects themerchandise, he could scan selected merchandise or place an order online. If the customer is purchasing large or bulky items at for examplea warehouse store information could be sent wirelessly from the customerscanner to the cash register for easy checkout. A receipt would be sentto the warehouse dock and/or appropriate mechandise departments togather the purchased merchandise. If the item was to be assembled bystore personnel, that request could be relayed to the appropriatedepartment.

The receipt preferably has a bar code or RFID chip on it. Store securityor other store personnel could scan or read the receipt as the customerexits the shopping floor potion of the warehouse store or if thecustomer purchased the product online and printed a receipt with a barcode, the receipt could be scanned as the customer enters the parkinglot. If the customer has a RFID on his car or ID, the RFID could be readas the customer enters the parking lot.

A wireless or other signal could be sent to the dock letting dockpersonnel know the customer has left the store, entered the parking lot,or entered the pick-up area and will be driving to the dock to pick uphis or her merchandise. The merchandise could be brought to the dock. AnRFID chip on the merchandise and the RFID on the receipt could be readto verify that the merchandise matches what the customer purchased. Thiswould prevent loading the wrong merchandise in the customer's car. Afurther RFID on the customer car or ID could be scanned to ensure thatthe customer who purchased the merchandise or his authorizedrepresentative is the one making the pickup.

In another embodiment, a customer wanting a specific amount of somethingcould scan an RFID tag embedded in the item or item packaging orcontain. When the amount of product is ready, it could be scanned andtransferred to the register for easy checkout. For example, if thecustomer wants 2.5 yards or fabric, 10 pounds of ground beef, a specificamount of nails, he could scan the item and input the amount he or shewants.

RFID tags could be used as security to prevent loss or theft ofmerchandise, equipment or tools. A person business owner could place anRFID chip on items like computers, stereo equipment, tools, appliances,etc. The chip could have company or owner address, product information,serial number, lessor and/or lessee information, service information,and other information loaded on the chip. In addition, if themerchandise was taken an alarm could sound. If the item were later beingsold or if rented returned to the lesser, the product could be scannedto verify that it was the original product. The police could scan theRFID chip if the item were recovered. A pawnshop could scan themerchandise to ensure that the owner was the person pawning the item. Ifthe item was stolen, the police could be contacted and the item returnedto the owner.

Animal can be tagged. An RFID tag in animal allows the match-up of aresidence and an animal. An officer or other person could scan theaddress tag for validation. The officer could then go to the locationand scan the data marker to verify that this is the animal's home. Thepet and owner could be reunited. In the case of an injured pet, the petcould be transported to the veterinarian and the vet could scan the petfor billing purposes.

1. A method to track a physical address while providing a servicecomprising the steps of: obtaining an address for a location, thelocation provided with a data marker containing data, said data markeris a bar code, an RFID tag, or the bar code and the RFID tag; presenceat the location of a service provider; scanning or interrogation of thedata marker by the service provider; verification of the data by theservice provider; and provision of a service by the service provider. 2.The method of claim 1 wherein the data comprises one or more of thefollowing address data, owner data, business name data, resident data,employee data, equipment data, utility data, facility data, floor plandata, building layout data, department data, unit data, delivery data,and medical data.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is theaddress of the location.
 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising thesteps of acquiring a first address and verifying that the first addressmatches the address for the location prior to provision of a service. 5.The method of claim 4 wherein the service is delivering an item.
 6. Themethod of claim 5 wherein step of obtaining the address of the locationcomprises the step of scanning, reading, or interrogating a labelassociated with the item to be delivered.
 7. The method of claim 6wherein the label is an address, shipping label, bar code label, RFIDtag, bill of lading, invoice, delivery ticket, delivery order, freightmanifest, check, shipping note, or delivery instructions.
 8. The methodof claim 4 further comprising the step of reporting delivery of theitem.
 9. The method of claim 4 wherein the data further comprisesalternate delivery instructions and further comprising the step ofdelivering the item to an alternate location and/or an alternaterecipient based on the alternate delivery instructions.
 10. The methodof claim 4 wherein the service is an emergency service.
 11. The methodof claim 10 wherein the step of obtaining the address of the locationcomprises the step of obtaining an address from a 911 call.
 12. Themethod of claim 4 wherein the data further comprises data resident dataand/or medical data.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising thestep of transmitting resident and/or medical data to a hospital ormedical provider.
 14. The method of claim 12 further comprising thesteps of generating a report and transmitting the report after theprovision of the service.
 15. The method of claim 10 further comprisingthe step of providing an emergency services signal to the data marker,verification of the emergency services signal and obtaining access tothe location.
 16. The method of claim 4 wherein the service is a servicecall to service or repair equipment.
 17. The method of claim 16 whereinthe data further comprises utility data, equipment data or floor plandata.
 18. A method to track a physical address while providing a servicecomprising the steps of: obtaining an address of a location, thelocation having at least one data marker containing address data andoptionally one or more of the following owner data, business name data,resident data, employee data, equipment data, utility data, facilitydata, floor plan data, building layout data, department data, unit data,delivery data, and medical data and said at least one data marker is abar code, an RFID tag, or the bar code and the RFID tag; presence at thelocation of a service provider; scanning or interrogation of the datamarker by the service provider to acquire the address data; verifyingthat the address matches the address data prior to provision of aservice verification of data by the service provider; and providing ofthe service by a service provider.
 19. The method of claim 18 furthercomprising the step of reporting delivery of the item, wherein the stepof obtaining an address comprises the step of scanning, reading, orinterrogating a label associated with the item to be delivered, andwherein the label is an address, shipping label, bar code label, RFIDtag, bill of lading, invoice, delivery ticket, delivery order, freightmanifest, check, shipping note, or delivery instructions.
 20. The methodof claim 4 wherein the service is an emergency service and the step ofobtaining an address comprises the step of obtaining an address from a911 call.